Sheet B3 (Users)
The limestone inquiry
Industrial users of limestone
You represent some of the industrial users of the limestone quarried by RQH. At the
Inquiry you will have to present your arguments in support of the extension to the
quarry.
You and the other representatives should first read this briefing. Then discuss the
arguments you will put forward in a two-minute presentation at the Inquiry. You may
want to elect a single person to speak, or share it between you.
The main points of your case

For chemical use it is essential that the calcium carbonate used is pure. Any
impurities have to be removed, and this requires extra and expensive processes.

If the limestone were of lower purity, more waste would be produced and more
energy used in some processes, eg in steel-making – this is not good
environmentally.

Limestone deposits are widely distributed in Britain and are quarried for many
different uses. The deposits in this National Park are particularly useful. They are
very pure indeed. The deposits are easy to get at. They are near to the big
industrial centres of the Midlands and the North West, but unfortunately they are
also in areas of outstanding landscape.

Limestone from this district has supplied the chemical industry in Cheshire and
South Lancashire since the late eighteenth century. The quarry operators
understand the needs of the chemical industry. There are suitable transport links
by rail and road. It would be very disruptive socially and economically, if other
supplies had to be found.

The National Park Authority considers that too much of the limestone is being
used for aggregate in road-building and for concrete. You will therefore wish to
stress the important uses of limestone in the chemical industry, in agriculture,
steel-making, water purification, glass making, combating air pollution and
making efficient use of polymers. The General Briefing summarises some of the
uses of limestone and limestone products in industry. You can point out that it is
unavoidable that some aggregate is produced. This is because only part of the
limestone is of the right chemical purity for use in the chemical industry.

The quarry produces about one fifth of the UK’s high purity limestone
requirements and is so important that small quantities are even exported to
Europe.

Whereas demand for some uses is declining, demand for use in pollution control
(to clean up rivers and sulfur emissions from power stations) is increasing
significantly.

Alternative sources are the North Wales Coast, Clwydian Hills, the Yorkshire
Dales, the fringes of the Lake District, the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons
and the Gower Peninsula - all are National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. Other sources are in Scandinavia and Spain. All alternative sources in
this country are at least twice as far from the main consumers, involving higher
transport (including energy and pollution) costs.